Automobile safety switch



Patented June 17, 1924,

UNITED 'STATES PATENT VOFFICE,

WIVN'FIELD S. HAYS, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

useful Improvements ini an Automobile- Safety Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an `automobile safety switch.

One object of the invention, is to provide a switch of the character described whereby the magneto and battery may be cut into or out of the circuit and is provided as a guardv against short circuits in theelectric system and will prevent the generator from burning out, and the battery from'running down due to faulty cut out switch. y y

Another object of the invention is to prou vide a safety switch whereby danger from lire will be eliminated by reason of short circuit and' which will prevent thevehicle from being started and the horn and lights from being used by meddlers. The switch is therefore a protection against theft, and when the switch is locked open the carv can not be used.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a safety switch which is of'simple construction and'may be cheaply and easily manufactured and applied to. any make of automobile.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to cer? tain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement'ofparts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein i Figure 1 is a plan view of the device with the switchy plug'removed.'y

'Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof showing said plug inserted. f

Figure 3 is a bottom-view. y

Figure 4 is av fragmentary sectional view showing an electrical fcontact tonguei'employed. y i i i Figure 5 is a side view ofthe switch plug.

lFigure 6 isan enlarged fragmentarysec tional-view of the fdevice. and, f f

` AUTOMOBILE sAFE'rYswIToH.

Application mea May 2o, 1922. seriai No. 562,464.

Figure 7 shows a plan `view ofthe metallic plate embodied in the switch.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the switch block is preferably composed of three plates 1, 2 and 3the latter of which is metal and the two former of which are formed of rubber or other insulating material. These plates are clamped together by means of thevbolts 4, 4, each of which has a surrounding tubular insulator 5, and clamped against the outer face of the metallic plate 3 there are thin plate like insulators 6 and 7 which arekalso held in place by the bolts 4, 4. The switch block has a central socket 8 to receive the switchy plug9. This plug is formed of hard rubber or other'insulating material and its inner end is surroundedbyfa metal collar` 10 whichis shrunk thereon and the' plug is also` formedwith annular grooves 11 and 12 therearound. There are two binding posts 13, 13 which are threaded into the plate 3 and the terminals of the wiring 14, leading to the battery are connected'to these binding posts. It is to bevnoted that the plate 3 is formed of two sections spaced apart, as illustrated in Figure and one of the binding posts 13 is connected to each section of this plate. `lh'en the plug 9 is inserted into the socket 8 itmay be locked in either `of in asuitable slot cut in the face of the plate 2.l When the plug 9 is in one position the plunger 14 may be operated to project into the groove 12, and ther plug will thus be locked in the position shown in Figure?, with the metal collar 10 out ofcontact with the plate 3 and the circuit through the wiring 14 .willbe broken.` When the plug is fully inserted into the block the plunger 14 may be actuated to project into the groove 11. When the plug is locked in this position themetal collar 1()` will contact with both sections of the plate 13 and establish a complete circuit through the battery wires 14. The numerals 16, 16 designate the wires leading to the magneto. The terminals of these wires are connected to the metallic plates 17, 17 which are fastened to plug is fully inserted into the socket 8 vthis rod fits through an aligned opening in the plates 6 and 7, and between the tongues 19 19, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure y2, thus establishing a circuit through the wiring 16. Then the plug is in withdrawn position, as shown in Figure 2 the rod 2O is out lof contact with the tongues 19, aty the same time `that the metallic sleeve 1() is out of contact with the sections of the plate 3 and the circuit through the wiring 16 is brekeny lFrom the foregoing it is obvious that the plug 9 may be inserted into the switch block and locked vin either of two positions. When in 011C position a circuit will be established through the battery wiring and the magneto wiring and when in the other position said circuits will be broken. When these cir- `cuits Iare broken, short circuits and burn outs `ofthe ,electric system will be impossible. The generator will also be protected from burning out and the battery will be protected lfrom ruiming down due Vto faulty cutont switch or other short circuits or grounds. The vehicle will also be protected from lire arising from short circuits and it :will be impossible to start the car or use the horn .or lights thus protecting the vehicle from theft or unauthorized use.

What I claim is 1. A safety switch including a sectional block, one section of which is formed .of two members spaced apart, the other sections of the block being formed of insulating material, said block being formed with a central socket, a switch plug adapted to be inserted yinto said socket, said plug being vformed with a metallic section, elec,- trical wiring connected with each of said members, said metallic section contacting u-'ith said members to complete an electric circuit when said plug is inserted in one position in said socket andy being out of contact with said `members to break said circuit when said plug is in its other position in said socket, and means for locking said plug in' `either .of said positions.

A- sectional switch block, one section of which is formed with two members spaced apart and formed of electrical conducting material, the other sections of said block b eingformed 4of insulating material, said block` having a central socket, a switch plug adapted to be inserted in either of two positions insaid socket, said plug havin a section yof conducting material which when in one position is in contact with said members completing a circuit through them, and when in the other position is out of contact with said members, thus breaking said circuit, metallic plates fastened to the block and insulated therefrom and formed with spaced contact tongues, guards on opposite sides of said tongues, a metallic rod carried bythe plug and contacting with said tongues when the plug is in position to complete a circuit through said members, but being out of contact with said tongues when said plug is in its other position.

A sectional switch block, one section of which is formed with two members spaced apart and formed 'of lelectrical ,conducting material, the other sections of said block being formed of insulating material, said block having a central socket, a switch plug adapted to be inserted in either of two positions in said socket, said plug having a section of coi'iducting material which when in one position is in contact with said members completing a circuit through them, and when inthe other position is out of Contact with said members, thus breaking said `circuit, metallicplates fastened to the ,block and insulated therefrom and formed with spaced contact tongues, guards on opposite sides 4.of said tongues, a metallic rod carried by ,the plug and contacting with said tongues when the plug is in position to complete a circuit through said members, but being out of Contact with said tongues when said plug is in its other position, and means -fo-r ylocking said plug in either of said positions.

4. A sectional switch block, one section of which is formed withftwo members spaced apart and formed of electrical conducting material, the other sections of said block beling formed of insulating material, said block having a central socket, a switch plug adapted to 'be inserted in either of two positions in said socket, said plug having a section of conducting material which when in one position is in contact with said members completing a circuit through them, and whe-n in the other position is out of contact with said members, thus breaking said circuit, spaced contact tongues fastened to the 'block and insulated therefrom, a metallic rod carried by the plug and contacting with said tongues, when the plug is in position to complete av circuit `through said members, but being out o-f contact with said tongues when said plug is in its other position, electrical wiring connected withy said members, and electrical wiring connected with said tongues.

5. A. safitey switch including a sectional blockyonefsection of which is formed of members spaced apart, the other sections of the block being formed of insulating ma- ,teriah said block being formed with-a socket, a switch plug adapted to be inserted into said socket, said plug being formed with a metallic section, electrical Wiring connected with each of said members, said metallic section contacting with said mem'bers to complete an electricl circuit when said plug is inserted in one position in said Socke-t and being out of Contact with said members to break said circuit when said plug is in its other position in said socket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 10 two subscribing Witnesses.

WINFIELD S. HAYS.

Witnesses:

W. H. DUNLAY, E. V. HARDWAY. 

